Week 3 of the NFL season acquired underway on Thursday evening when the Cleveland Browns earned the win and canopy in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, we nonetheless have 15 video games on the slate for this weekend. Let’s check out three pairs of video games with related level spreads and attempt to break down which aspect we would reasonably be on.
Bills or Chiefs?
The Buffalo Bills have seemed unstoppable to open the NFL season, as they’ve defeated the defending Super Bowl champions and final season’s No. 1 seed within the AFC by a mixed rating of 72-17. This week, they head to Miami the place they’re 5.5-point favorites in opposition to the Dolphins on a brief week. Elsewhere, the Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0 and head to Indianapolis to satisfy the reeling Colts. Indianapolis is 0-1-1 and their offense has been putrid. Kansas City is a 5.5-point highway favourite over the Colts. Which of those two well-regarded highway favorites would you reasonably again?
Greg: The Colts had been lacking a steady of key gamers in Week 2 so I’m prepared to provide them the primary clear move they’ve seen all 12 months. Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Shaquille Leonard are all again at observe and might want to go well with up for Indy to have an opportunity on this recreation. The big pink flag right here is the road dropping from -7 to -5.5 whereas 66% of the cash is on Kansas City.
It’s so humorous how Tua Tagovailoa went from skipping passes off the bottom in Week 1 to the fifth-shortest MVP odds after a pair breakdowns within the Ravens’ battered secondary final week. Buffalo’s total secondary is injured, so it might be déj blue in Miami. While I’m a Tua skeptic, I’m an enormous believer in Mike McDaniel and the way he is constructed this workforce and places them in positions to succeed. The Dolphins are extra of a stay canine than the Colts, so I’ll take the Chiefs.
Pete: Both the Dolphins and Bills are receiving loads of hype after their spectacular wins final week. However, I feel this can be a unhealthy spot for Buffalo. It’s a brief week after taking part in on Monday and it will be close to 90 levels in Miami on Sunday. Buffalo has already dominated out some key gamers, together with standout security Micah Hyde. I’m not speeding to put the factors with the Bills this week.
As far as Indianapolis, Matt Ryan appears fairly close to cooked. Of course, there’s an opportunity that is a untimely judgement however the early outcomes are unhealthy. If the Chiefs hone in on Jonathan Taylor (they’ll), it is laborious to see a Matt Ryan led passing offense maintaining tempo. Kansas City has been simply superb with out Tyreek Hill and I can see them profitable a 31-17 sort of recreation right here. I’ll roll with Kansas City as properly.
Raiders or Saints?
Both the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints fell aside late in Week 2 en path to shedding their video games. The Raiders meet the Titans in Week 3 as two 0-2 groups meet. It’s Week 3, however this looks like a little bit of an elimination recreation as rebounding from a 0-3 begin is sort of unimaginable primarily based on historical past (simply over 3% probability of constructing the playoffs). Las Vegas is a 2.5-point highway favourite in Tennessee. Elsewhere, the New Orleans Saints are a 2.5-point highway favourite in Carolina in opposition to Baker Mayfield and the Panthers. It’s a final stand for Carolina as they appear to keep away from a 0-3 begin and they’re a house underdog in a divisional recreation. Which highway favourite would you reasonably wager?
Greg: The Raiders are permitting the sixth-fewest yards per carry, Tennessee’s offensive line is crumbling, and Derrick Henry is declining sooner than crypto costs. Things will not get a lot better via the air for the Titans in opposition to Nate Hobbs and a powerful Vegas secondary. I’m relying on Derek Carr to play higher than he has the primary two weeks and for the Raiders to take this one on the highway.
MK-Ultra, McDonald’s bubble gum-flavored broccoli, Baker Mayfield – these are all experiments gone horribly improper. It’s ironic how watching Baker makes me need to go full Sylvia Plath. There’s expertise on this Panthers workforce, however Matt Rhule is conducting a trainwreck in slo-mo. It’s all Saints day for me.
Pete: In the final set of video games, I light the Colts as a result of I’m unsure how a lot Matt Ryan has left. I’m making use of related logic right here in fading the Titans. If Derrick Henry has declined by even 20%, that is a severe concern for this 12 months’s Titans. He actually appears slower since getting back from his foot harm final season. If Henry is even merely above common as a substitute of elite, this could be an extended lengthy season in Tennessee.
In the Saints/Panthers, I’m unsure how one can proceed placing their hard-earned submit tax {dollars} on Matt Rhule and the Panthers. The Baker Mayfield experiment has not produced outcomes but. I feel the Saints terrorize Baker behind that weak Panthers’ offensive line and New Orleans does sufficient on offense. I’m marching with the Saints as properly.
Falcons or Packers?
The Atlanta Falcons are 0-2 straight up however they’re 2-0 in opposition to the unfold to open the season. This week, the Falcons are a 1-point highway underdog in opposition to the Seahawks in Seattle. Elsewhere, the Green Bay Packers are a 1-point highway underdog in Tampa Bay in opposition to the Buccaneers in what might be the final ever assembly between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Which quick highway underdog would you reasonably wager?
Greg: It solely took per week for Geno Smith to jot down again. The Falcons are taking part in fairly properly for a workforce that was ranked forty fifth coming into the season. They’re not something near a playoff workforce, however Dean Pees’ protection has some spunk and Marcus Mariota is shifting the offense together with rookie receiver Drake London. It would not shock me if Atlanta blows the Seahawks out in Seattle.
The Packers and Bucs have a mixed ten receivers who’re both injured or suspended. All I would like on this recreation is a reversal of final 12 months’s Bucs-Jets matchup, the place a shirtless Antonio Brown emerges from the tunnel within the third quarter, runs to the Tampa sideline, fits up, and calls for to enter the sport. It could also be awhile earlier than the Bucs heal up and discover their groove on offense, however their protection is clamping, permitting simply 13 factors via two weeks. There are so many potential outcomes to this recreation that I’m staying away. Give me the Falcons.
Pete: I hate to agree with Greg on all three video games, however right here we’re.
The whole for Packers/Buccaneers is about at simply 42-points, which says lots in regards to the present standing of those groups. It’s the bottom workforce whole for Green Bay since 2014 when Aaron Rodgers is underneath middle. It’s the bottom workforce whole for Tampa Bay within the Tom Brady period. Both defenses are good, each offenses are banged up and have legit query marks. It looks as if each Todd Bowles and Matt LaFleur appear content material to run the ball and lean on their protection, which is surprising when you take a look at the 2 quarterbacks concerned. This recreation will in all probability be determined by a late area aim and I can see it going both approach. I’m staying away.
As for Atlanta-Seattle, the Seahawks used adrenaline and motivation to beat Denver, a workforce we’re already sure is poorly coached. I nonetheless assume the Seahawks aren’t excellent. I do not assume Atlanta is excellent both, however they’ve proven they are often aggressive. I’ll take Marcus Mariota over Geno Smith. hold your level, Atlanta wins straight up.